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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:

  • That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
  • We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
  • On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.

By learning about Forest Heights (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.

As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Forest Heights. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.

Name Variations for Forest Heights ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might have occurred.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Forest Heights: Forest Hts. (in Canada, 'Hgts.' is the more common abbreviation.)

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

Neighboring Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Forest Heights is located in Kershaw County.

To see how the shape of South Carolina's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Kershaw County: Chesterfield, Darlington, Fairfield, Lancaster, Lee, Richland & Sumter.

Below are the counties that are near Forest Heights. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Forest Heights:

  • Kershaw County     (The home county of Forest Heights)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Heights, with the one closest to Forest Heights listed first.
    • Log Town ‑ Historic
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Log Town have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Log Town
      • Log Town is located in Kershaw County
    • Camden
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Lafayette Village
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lafayette Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette Village
      • Lafayette Village is located in Kershaw County
    • Spring Village
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Spring Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Village
      • Spring Village is located in Kershaw County
    • Lugoff
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Cassatt
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Westville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Elgin
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
      • Elgin is located in Kershaw County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,585 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elgin <2>
    • Bethune
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Pine Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pine Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Village
      • Pine Village is located in Kershaw County
    • Kershaw
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Liberty Hill
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Chester County
    • Great Falls
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Chesterfield County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Heights, with the one closest to Forest Heights listed first.
    • McBee
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBee
      • McBee is located in Chesterfield County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 838 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for McBee <2>
    • Angelus
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angelus
      • Angelus is located in Chesterfield County
    • Jefferson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Darlington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Heights, with the one closest to Forest Heights listed first.
    • Pine Ridge
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Ridge
      • Pine Ridge is located in Darlington County
    • Lydia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Prestwood Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Prestwood Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prestwood Village
      • Prestwood Village is located in Darlington County
    • Hartsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Lamar
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamar
      • Lamar is located in Darlington County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 930 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lamar <2>
    • North Hartsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Hartsville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hartsville
      • North Hartsville is located in Darlington County
  • Fairfield County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Heights, with the one closest to Forest Heights listed first.
    • Smallwood
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smallwood
      • Smallwood is located in Fairfield County
    • Ridgeway
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Mitford
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitford
      • Mitford is located in Fairfield County
    • Winnsboro Mills
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Winnsboro Mills have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winnsboro Mills
      • Winnsboro Mills is located in Fairfield County
    • Winnsboro
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Lancaster County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Heights, with the one closest to Forest Heights listed first.
    • Oakhurst
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oakhurst have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakhurst
      • Oakhurst is located in Lancaster County
    • Heath Springs
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Pleasant Hill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
      • Pleasant Hill is located in Lancaster County
    • Primus
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Primus
      • Primus is located in Lancaster County
    • Elgin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
      • Elgin is located in Lancaster County
    • Bell Town
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bell Town have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell Town
      • Bell Town is located in Lancaster County
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Heights, with the one closest to Forest Heights listed first.
    • Manville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manville
      • Manville is located in Lee County
    • Bishopville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Alcot
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alcot
      • Alcot is located in Lee County
    • Elliott
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Atkins
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Atkins have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins
      • Atkins is located in Lee County
  • Richland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Heights, with the one closest to Forest Heights listed first.
    • Blythewood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Woodfield
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Woodfield have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodfield
      • Woodfield is located in Richland County
    • Dentsville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Eastover
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Arcadia Lakes
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Arcadia Lakes have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia Lakes
      • Arcadia Lakes is located in Richland County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 874 people
    • Bruner
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruner
      • Bruner is located in Richland County
    • Ravenwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravenwood
      • Ravenwood is located in Richland County
    • Belmont
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Brickyard Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Brickyard Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brickyard Village
      • Brickyard Village is located in Richland County
    • Capitol View
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitol View
      • Capitol View is located in Richland County
    • Forest Acres
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Acres
      • Forest Acres is located in Richland County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,269 people
    • Hopkins
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Pinewood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinewood
      • Pinewood is located in Richland County
  • Sumter County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Heights, with the one closest to Forest Heights listed first.
    • Rembert
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Horatio
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Dalzell
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Oakland
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oakland have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
      • Oakland is located in Sumter County
    • Stateburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Stateburg have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stateburg
      • Stateburg is located in Sumter County
    • Cherryvale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cherryvale have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherryvale
      • Cherryvale is located in Sumter County
    • Oswego
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswego
      • Oswego is located in Sumter County
    • Wedgefield
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Mulberry
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mulberry have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
      • Mulberry is located in Sumter County
    • Cane Savannah
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cane Savannah have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Savannah
      • Cane Savannah is located in Sumter County
    • Millwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Millwood have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millwood
      • Millwood is located in Sumter County
    • Sumter
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Ashley Creek Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ashley Creek Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashley Creek Village
      • Ashley Creek Village is located in Sumter County

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Forest Heights, see our County-by-County Page for Forest Heights.

Newspapers Published in Forest Heights ...

An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.

Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 59 newspapers that have been published in the area around Forest Heights.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Forest Heights, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Forest Heights.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Forest Heights:

Cemeteries Near Forest Heights ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Forest Heights.

This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Forest Heights covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Forest Heights, with the one closest to Forest Heights listed first.

  • Hermitage Baptist Church Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Quaker Burying Ground
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Jewish Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Jewish Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Jewish Cemetery
  • Boykin Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Boykin Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Boykin Cemetery
  • Chestnut Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Chestnut Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Chestnut Cemetery
  • Forest Lawn Memorial Park
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Forest Lawn Memorial Park have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Forest Lawn Memorial Park
  • Parker Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Parker Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Parker Cemetery
  • St. Matthews Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Matthews Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Matthews Cemetery
  • Dekalb Baptist Church Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Union Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Union Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Union Cemetery
  • Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • McCaskill Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the McCaskill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the McCaskill Cemetery
  • Continue List   (206 more) ...
    • Pine Grove Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pine Grove Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pine Grove Cemetery
    • McLeod Chapel UMC Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Sand Hill Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Sand Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Sand Hill Cemetery

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<5>

While we didn't find Forest Heights in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Forest Heights.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Forest Heights, with the one closest to Forest Heights listed first.

  • Camden
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Antioch
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Antioch have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
    • Antioch is located in Kershaw County
  • Stockton ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Stockton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
    • Stockton is located in Kershaw County
  • Dekalb
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dekalb have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dekalb
    • Dekalb is located in Kershaw County
  • Pisgah
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pisgah have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
    • Pisgah is located in Sumter County
  • Cantey
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cantey have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cantey
    • Cantey is located in Kershaw County
  • Boykin
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Boykin have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boykin
    • Boykin is located in Kershaw County
  • Rembert
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Hagood
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hagood have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagood
    • Hagood is located in Sumter County
  • Westville
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Flat Rock
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Flat Rock have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Rock
    • Flat Rock is located in Kershaw County
  • Longtown
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Longtown have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longtown
    • Longtown is located in Fairfield County
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Catchall
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Catchall have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catchall
      • Catchall is located in Sumter County
    • Tillers Ferry
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tillers Ferry have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tillers Ferry
      • Tillers Ferry is located in Kershaw County
    • Bishopville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Forest Heights. See our List of 1890's Communities around Forest Heights.

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Forest Heights. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of South Carolina: https://sc.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Forest Heights) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Forest Heights. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 34.2515, Longitude: -80.5684       In this case, the coordinates for Forest Heights have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<4>The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.
<5>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Forest Heights, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 07 Apr 2024